Netgear Zing User Manual
NETGEAR® Zing Mobile Hotspot™
User Guide
©2013 Sprint. Sprint and the logo are trademarks of Sprint. Other marks are trademarks of their
respective owners.
4114045 Rev 2
Table of Contents
Get Started ................................................................................................................................ 1
Your Device ........................................................................................................................ 1
Package Contents ....................................................................................................... 2
Care and Maintenance ................................................................................................ 3
System Requirements ......................................................................................................... 3
Setting Up Your Device ....................................................................................................... 4
Device Setup ............................................................................................................... 4
Starting Your Device for the First Time ........................................................................ 4
Getting Help ........................................................................................................................ 5
Visiting the Sprint Website ........................................................................................... 6
Contacting Sprint Customer Service ............................................................................ 6
Device Basics ............................................................................................................................ 7
Components of Your Device ............................................................................................... 7
GSM, 3G, and LTE Networks .............................................................................................. 8
Mobile Broadband Information and Settings ................................................................ 8
Signal Information ........................................................................................................ 9
Internet Connection Information .......................................................................................... 9
Battery ................................................................................................................................ 9
Installing the Battery ...................................................................................................10
Charging the Battery ...................................................................................................11
Battery Information and Settings .................................................................................13
Power Button .....................................................................................................................14
Turning Your Device On and Off .................................................................................14
Controlling Your Device Using the Power Button ........................................................15
Restarting Your Device ......................................................................................................15
LED ...................................................................................................................................16
Device Tutorial ...................................................................................................................16
LCD Touchscreen ..............................................................................................................17
Micro-SIM ..........................................................................................................................17
Alerts .................................................................................................................................17
TOC i
Your Network Connection .........................................................................................................18
Launching Your Network Connection .................................................................................18
Setting up a Guest Wi-Fi Network ......................................................................................18
Turning the Guest Wi-Fi Network On ..........................................................................18
Turning the Guest Wi-Fi Network Off ..........................................................................19
Randomizing the Guest Wi-Fi Password .....................................................................19
Change the Guest Wi-Fi Password .............................................................................20
Sharing Your Connection ...................................................................................................20
Manually Entering the Wi-Fi Information .....................................................................20
Connecting Through WPS ..........................................................................................21
Connecting Through USB ..................................................................................................24
Making a Tethered Connection ...................................................................................24
TRU-Install..................................................................................................................26
LCD Touchscreen Interface ......................................................................................................27
Interpreting the LCD...........................................................................................................27
LCD Information Screens ...................................................................................................28
Data Usage Screen ....................................................................................................29
Billing Cycle Screen ....................................................................................................30
Session Screen ..........................................................................................................30
Connected Devices Screen ........................................................................................31
Device Screen ............................................................................................................32
Wi-Fi Screen ...............................................................................................................33
Main Wi-Fi Screen ......................................................................................................34
Guest Wi-Fi Screen ....................................................................................................35
WPS Sc reen ...............................................................................................................35
Wi-Fi Options Screen ..................................................................................................36
Block List Screen ........................................................................................................37
Settings Screen ..........................................................................................................38
Display Screen ...........................................................................................................39
Display > Timeout Screen ...........................................................................................40
Network Screen ..........................................................................................................41
Roaming Screen .........................................................................................................42
Status Screen .............................................................................................................42
TOC ii
Updates Screen ..........................................................................................................44
Sleep Screen ..............................................................................................................44
GPS Screen................................................................................................................45
Reset Screen ..............................................................................................................46
More Screen ...............................................................................................................46
Support Screen ...........................................................................................................47
About Screen ..............................................................................................................48
Mobile Apps Screen ....................................................................................................49
Feedback Screen .......................................................................................................49
Alerts Screen ..............................................................................................................50
Zing Manager (Browser) Interface .............................................................................................51
Home Page ........................................................................................................................51
Displaying the Zing Manager Home Page ...................................................................52
Logging In as an Administrator ...................................................................................53
Data Usage.................................................................................................................55
My Account Summary .................................................................................................55
Alerts ..........................................................................................................................56
Status (Connection Details) ........................................................................................56
Devices Page.....................................................................................................................58
Wi-Fi Page .........................................................................................................................59
Connect Tab ...............................................................................................................59
Options Tab ................................................................................................................60
MAC Filter Tab ...........................................................................................................64
GPS Page ..........................................................................................................................65
Setti ngs Page ....................................................................................................................68
General > Device Tab .................................................................................................68
General > Software and Reset Tab .............................................................................69
General > System Logs Tab .......................................................................................71
Network > Preferences Tab ........................................................................................72
Network > APN (Access Point Name) Tab ..................................................................74
Network > SIM Security Tab .......................................................................................76
Network > Status Details Tab .....................................................................................77
Router > Basic Tab .....................................................................................................80
TOC iii
Router > Port Forwarding Tab ....................................................................................83
Router > Port Filtering Tab .........................................................................................84
Support Page .....................................................................................................................86
About Page ........................................................................................................................88
Feedback Page ..................................................................................................................91
Device Settings .........................................................................................................................93
Display Settings .................................................................................................................93
Turning the LED On or Off ..........................................................................................93
Setting the LCD Timeout.............................................................................................93
Setting the LCD Brightness .........................................................................................94
Router Settings ..................................................................................................................95
Enabling VPN Passthrough ........................................................................................95
UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) .................................................................................95
DHCP .........................................................................................................................95
DNS Mode ..................................................................................................................96
Enabling Port Forwarding ...........................................................................................97
Enabling Port Forwarding for an Application ...............................................................97
Disabling Port Forwarding for an Application ..............................................................97
DMZ – General ...........................................................................................................98
Enabling DMZ .............................................................................................................98
Configuring DMZ ........................................................................................................98
Port Filtering Panel: Enabling Port Filterings ...............................................................99
Port Filtering Panel: Enabling Port Filtering for an Application ....................................99
Port Filtering Panel: Disabling Port Filtering for an Application ...................................99
Login Settings .................................................................................................................. 100
Changing the Zing Manager URL ............................................................................. 100
Changing the Zing Manager Password ..................................................................... 100
Configuring Networks .............................................................................................................. 101
Viewing Network Activation Information ........................................................................... 101
Viewing Data Usage ........................................................................................................ 101
Network Settings .............................................................................................................. 102
Setting the Roaming Mode ....................................................................................... 102
Enabling / Disabling the Roaming Guard Warning Message ..................................... 103
TOC iv
Setting the Allowed Network Mode ........................................................................... 103
Configuring Access Point Names ..................................................................................... 104
Software and Reset ................................................................................................................ 106
Exporting and Importing Settings ..................................................................................... 106
Exporting Settings..................................................................................................... 106
Impor ting Settings ..................................................................................................... 106
Update Mobile Hotspot Software and Firmware ............................................................... 106
Downloading Software Updates ................................................................................ 107
Upgrading Firmware From a File .............................................................................. 108
Resetting Your Device ..................................................................................................... 108
Clearing Account Details Only .................................................................................. 108
Resetting Device Settings Only................................................................................. 109
Resetting to Factory Default Settings ........................................................................ 110
GPS Settings .......................................................................................................................... 111
Enabling / Disabling GPS ................................................................................................. 111
Setting the GPS Mode ..................................................................................................... 111
Using Metric Units ............................................................................................................ 112
Configuring the Wi-Fi Network ................................................................................................ 113
Setting the Maximum Number of Wi-Fi Devices ............................................................... 113
Wi-Fi Security .................................................................................................................. 114
Change Wi-Fi Network Names and Passwords ........................................................ 115
Displaying Wi-Fi Network Name and Password on LCD Home Screen ..................... 118
Enable / Disable the Block List.................................................................................. 119
Displaying and Blocking Currently Connected Devices (Block List) .......................... 119
View and Unblock Devices (Block List) ..................................................................... 120
Allowing or Denying Computers Access to the Network (MAC Filter) ........................ 121
Disable Wi-Fi W hen Tethering Device (Connected Through USB) ............................ 122
Setting the Sleep (Inactivity) Timer .................................................................................. 123
Wi-Fi Channel .................................................................................................................. 123
Frequently Asked Questions ................................................................................................... 125
How Can I Tell I’m Connected to GSM, 3G or LTE? ........................................................ 125
How Do I Connect to Wi-Fi? ............................................................................................. 125
Is Roaming on LTE Supported? ....................................................................................... 126
TOC v
What Do I Do if I Forget the Main or Guest Wi-Fi Password? ........................................... 126
What Do I Do if I Forget the Administrator Password? ..................................................... 127
If the Connection is “Always On,” Am I Always Being Billed? ........................................... 127
Questions About GPS ...................................................................................................... 127
What is GPS? ........................................................................................................... 127
Where C an I Use GPS ? ............................................................................................ 127
How Do I Enable or Disable GPS? ........................................................................... 127
What are some GPS Limitations? ............................................................................. 127
How Can I Stream GPS Data to Use With a Third-party GPS Application? ............... 127
Questions About WPS ..................................................................................................... 128
What is WPS? .......................................................................................................... 128
How do I Use WPS? ................................................................................................. 128
If a Wireless Device has a WPS Button or a WPS Software Option, Must I Use it to
Connect Via Wi-Fi? ................................................................................................... 128
How Do I Access My Corporate Network Through a VPN? .............................................. 129
Are Terminal Sessions Supported? .................................................................................. 129
Tips ......................................................................................................................................... 130
Extending Battery Life ...................................................................................................... 130
Mobile Hotspot Location .................................................................................................. 130
Improving Signal Strength ................................................................................................ 130
Improving 3G Network Service ........................................................................................ 131
Improving Wi-Fi Performance .......................................................................................... 131
Security Tips .................................................................................................................... 133
Finding the MAC Address ................................................................................................ 133
Finding the IP Address ..................................................................................................... 134
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................... 135
General Tips .................................................................................................................... 135
LCD Is Dark ..................................................................................................................... 135
Insufficient Signal Strength .............................................................................................. 135
Cannot Connect to Wi-Fi .................................................................................................. 136
Cannot Connect Through USB ........................................................................................ 136
Cannot Display the Home Page ....................................................................................... 137
Cannot Connect to the Mobile Broadband Network ......................................................... 138
TOC vi
GPS Doesn’t Seem to Be Available ................................................................................. 138
Cannot Check for Updates ............................................................................................... 139
Technical Specifications .......................................................................................................... 140
Radio Frequency and Electrical Specifications ................................................................. 140
Software Specifications .................................................................................................... 141
Environmental Specifications ........................................................................................... 142
Mechanical Specifications ................................................................................................ 142
Safety Information ................................................................................................................... 143
Important Notice .............................................................................................................. 143
Safety and Hazards ......................................................................................................... 143
Proper Battery Use and Disposal .............................................................................. 143
Regulatory Notices .................................................................................................................. 145
Legal ....................................................................................................................................... 147
Patents ............................................................................................................................ 147
Licenses .......................................................................................................................... 147
GNU General Public License (Version 2) .................................................................. 147
GNU General Public License (Version 3) .................................................................. 153
GNU Lesser General Public License (Version 2.1) ................................................... 165
GNU Lesser General Public License (Version 3) ...................................................... 173
fontconfig License ..................................................................................................... 176
libxml2 License ......................................................................................................... 177
locapi License ........................................................................................................... 178
pimd License ............................................................................................................ 179
shadow License ........................................................................................................ 180
ISC License .............................................................................................................. 180
OpenSSL License ..................................................................................................... 181
Original SSLeay License........................................................................................... 182
Trademarks ..................................................................................................................... 183
Copyright ......................................................................................................................... 184
Limitation of Liabilit y ......................................................................................................... 184
Additional Information and Updates ................................................................................. 184
Index ....................................................................................................................................... 185
TOC vii
Get Started
The following topics give you all the information you need to set up your device and Sprint
service the first time.
Your Device
The following illustrations show your device’s primary external features and buttons.
Front View
Bottom View
Get Started 1
Top View
Back View (Battery Cover Removed)
Package Contents
Your package includes several items.
● NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot
● Battery cover
● Rechargeable battery
● AC charger with type-A USB port
● Micro-USB cable
Get Started 2
● Micro-SIM (pre-installed)
● Get Started poster
● Recycling envelope
Care and Maintenance
As with any electronic device, you should handle this device with care to ens ur e reliable
operation. Follow these guidelines in using and storing your device.
● Protect your device from liquids, dust, and excessive heat.
● Do not handle or operate your device while driving or operating a vehicle. Doing so may
distract you from properly operating the vehicle. In some jurisdictions, operating
communication devices while in control of a vehicle is a criminal offense.
● Do not apply adhesive labels to your device. They may cause your device to overheat
and may alter the antenna’s performance.
System Requirements
The following items are required to use your NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot.
● One or more computers that support Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
● Web browser (required if you’ll be using the Zing Manager browser interface to view
status and to configure settings). The following browsers are supported:
Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Google Chrome
Apple Safari
Opera
™
(version 9.64)
®
(version 7.0 or higher)
®
(version 3.0 or higher)
™
(version 2.0.172.28 or higher)
®
(version 4.0 or higher)
● If you’ll be connecting your device through USB:
Computer running Windows
Mac OS
®
X (version 10.5 or higher)
®
8 (x86), Windows 7, Windows Vista®, Windows XP®, or
USB 2.0 slot
Get Started 3
Setting Up Your Device
The following topics describe how to set up and start using your device.
Device Setup
This section describes how to set up your device.
1. Install the battery (see Installing the Battery for details).
2. The battery is shipped partially charged. If you want to fully charge the bat t ery at this
time, connect your device to the AC charger (see Charging the Battery for details).
3. Plug the AC charger into an electrical outlet.
Important: Charge your device until the battery icon is full ( ).
Starting Your Device for the First Time
The NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot is designed to activate automatically the first time that it is
turned on, using ‘hands-free activation’. Typically, the activation process will be seamless, not
requiring any action on your part; you might not even see any activation-related messages
displayed on your device’s LCD.
If your account did not activate for some reason, an alert will appear on the home screen and on
the Zing Manager home page with an option to try the activation again. You must activate your
account before you can use Sprint data services.
After going through the activation process, you will have the option of running a quick tutorial to
learn the LCD’s features.
Power On and Activate Your Account
1. Turn on the hotspot (press and hold the Power button for 2 seconds).
2. When the Welcome message appears, tap Continue.
3. Read the End User License Agreement and, when you are ready, tap I Agree to
accept the terms of the agreement.
• If the account is still activating, a Hands Free Activation message will display the
current status. Wait for the process to finish (recommended) or tap Cancel. If you
cancel the activation, follow the instructions that appear to finish the activation
process.
• If the activation succeeds, the Activation Complete message will appear, showing
your device’s Wi-Fi name and Wi-Fi password.
4. If you want to change the Wi-Fi name and/or password immediately:
Get Started 4
• Tap the arrow beside Wi-Fi name. See Using the LCD Keyboard.
• Tap the arrow beside Wi-Fi password. S ee Using the LCD Keyboard.
5. When you are ready to continue, tap Finish.
If your account could not be activated, a message will display the reason (not in cellular
coverage area, roaming internationally, etc.).
► Follow the instructions, and tap to clear the message.
Activate Your Account From the Home Screen
If your account was not activated, you cannot use Sprint data services. An alert will be shown
on the LCD home screen.
To try again to activate your account:
1. On the home screen, tap the Alerts bar.
2. Go through the alerts (tap the down arrow ) until you see the Hotspot not
activated alert.
3. Tap Retry Activation.
4. Follow any instructions that may appear.
View the Device Tutorial
The LCD home screen displays a Tutorial tab below the status bar, which remains until you
access the tutorial for the first time.
To view the tutorial for the firs t time:
► Either tap the Tutorial tab on the home screen,
-- or --
Tap > Settings > More > Support > View Tutorial.
See Device Tutorial for details.
Note: If you want to see the tutorial again, see Device Tutorial.
Getting Help
Learn where you can get more information or assistance.
Get Started 5
Visiting the Sprint Website
Sign o n to sprint.com to get up-to-date information on Sprint services and options.
● Review coverage maps.
● Access your account information.
● Add additional options to your service plan.
● Purchase accessories.
● Check out frequently asked questions.
● And more.
Contacting Sprint Customer Service
You can reach Sprint Customer Service online or by calling toll-free.
● Log in to your account at sprint.com.
● Call us toll-free at 1-888-788-4727 (business use) or 1-888-211-4727 (personal use).
Get Started 6
Device Basics
Learn about the buttons, connectors, and other components of your NETGEAR Zing Mobile
Hotspot.
Your device provides a simple way to use your Internet connection (GSM, 3G, or LTE) with any
Wi-Fi-enabled device, and to share your Internet connection with friends and family.
Components of Your Device
Your device consists of several main components.
● Main and Guest Wi-Fi networks: The Wi-Fi networks (access points) connect your
computers and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to your device.
Device Basics 7
● Modem: The modem connects your device to the Internet via the best available network
Icon
Description
LTE service is available.
3G service is available.
GSM (EDGE/GPRS/HSPA/HSPA+) service is available.
No icon
You have no service. Try the suggestions in Cannot Connect to the Mobile
(customizable):
LTE – Newer technology, faster speeds compared with 3G and GSM
3G – CDMA technology, more widely available compared with LTE
GSM – GPRS/EDGE/HSPA/HSPA+, available for international roaming
● Routing hardware: The routing hardware handles traffic between the modem, the Wi-Fi
access point, and the Wi-Fi network.
GSM, 3G, and LTE Networks
These wireless networks connect you to the Internet.
Depending on your coverage area, you may have:
● Only LTE coverage
● Only 3G coverage
● Only GSM coverage (GSM coverage is always roaming)
● A combination of these networks
Your device automatically connects to the fastest network that is available to you. If you have
both 3G and LTE coverage and your connection happens to get disrupted, your device can
automatically switch to the other network. (For more information, see Mobile Broadband
Infor mation and Settings.)
Mobile Broadband Information and Settings
The network icon indicates the active network service type.
Broadband Network.
Your device is designed to always connect to an available network if possible. If your device is
not connected (dropped signal, roaming not supported, etc.) an alert is displayed. The
connection status can also be seen on your device’s Status Screen, and on the web page’s
Network > Status Details Tab.
Device Basics 8
Your device can be set to connect automatically to the best available network, or to LTE, 3G, or
Icon
Description
No signal
Very weak signal
Excellent signal
GSM networks only. See Setting the Allowed Network Mode.
Your device can also be set to allow roaming on Sprint networks, domestically, and
internationally. See Setting the Roaming Mode.
Signal Information
Learn how to determine the signal strength and get detailed network status information.
Signal Strength
The signal strength icon appears on your device’s home screen and in the web page’s
Connection Details panel.
Active Network
The network that is currently being used for your data connection appears on your device’s
home screen and in the web page’s Connection Details panel.
Network Status
Detailed network information (such as Connection Status, RSSI, Ec/Io, etc.) appear on your
device’s Status Screen, and on the web page’s Network > Status Details Tab.
Internet Connection Information
Information about your Internet connection is available.
● Data usage for the current connection session and the current billing period. (See
Viewing Data Usage.)
● Router information. (See Router > Basic Tab, Router > Port Forwarding Tab, and Router
> Port Filtering Tab.)
Battery
The battery compartment is on the back of your device. The battery is replaceable. New
batteries, chargers, and other accessories are available from the Sprint Store at sprint.com.
Device Basics 9
Installing the Battery
Before you use your device, install the battery.
1. At antenna connector 1 or antenna connector 2, lift the raised edge of the battery
cover to remove it.
2. Insert the battery into your device, contacts end first. Make sure the battery contact
points align with those inside the battery compartment.
Device Basics 10
3. Replace the battery cover.
Charging the Battery
You need to recharge your device’s battery periodically. You can continue using your devic e
while it is charging.
The faster method is to connect your device to the AC charger. (See Using the AC Charger with
Your Device’s micro-USB Port, below). Alternatively, you can connect your device to your
computer, although this charges more slowly. (See Charging Through Your Computer, below.)
Using the AC Charger with Your Device’s micro-USB Port
1. Insert the larger (Type A) end of the micro-USB cable into the AC charger.
Device Basics 11
2. Insert the other end of the cable into the micro-USB port on the side of your device.
3. Insert the AC charger into an electrical outlet. (If the battery is already partially
changed when the charger is plugged into the outlet, your device will power on
automatically.)
While your device is charging, the LCD (and the Zing Manager home page, if your
device is on) shows:
• If your device is on – and the percentage charged (for example, “92%”).
• If your device is off – , the percentage charged (for example, “92%”), and
the message “Charging…”
When your device is fully charged, the LCD (and the Zing Manager home page, if your
device is on) shows:
• If your device is on – and the message “Battery is Fully charged. Please
remove power.” Tap the ‘X’ to close the message.
• If your device is off – and the message “Battery is Fully charged. Please
remove power.” Tap the ‘X’ to close the message.
Charging Through Your Computer
Note: If you will be using the USB connection to connect to the Internet (and not just for
charging your device), you must install the device driver. (See TRU-Install.)
Note: If you are using Mac OS X 10.4.x, after you connect your device you may see a warning
message that your computer is running on UPS backup battery and that you should
Device Basics 12
prevent a computer shutdown. You can continue with your work. To prevent this
Icon
Description
Battery is charged (26%-100%).
Battery level is low (11-25%). Charge your device. (See Charging the Battery)
Battery level is critical (<10%). Charge your device immediately. (See
Charging through the AC charger or computer.
message from being displayed, install the device driver.
1. Make sure your computer is turned on.
2. Insert the larger (Type A) end of the micro-USB cable into your computer.
3. Insert the other end of the cable into the micro-USB port on the side of your device.
While your device is charging, the LCD (and the Zing Manager home page, if your
device is on) shows:
• If your device is on – and the percentage charged (for example, “92%”)
• If your device is off – , the percentage charged (for example, “92%”), and
the message “Charging…”
When your device is fully charged, the LCD (and the Zing Manager home page, if your
device is on) shows:
• If your device is on – and the message “Battery is Fully charged. Please
remove power.”. Tap the ‘X’ to close t he message.
• If your device is off – and the message “Battery is Fully charged. Please
remove power.” Tap the ‘X’ to close the message.
Battery Information and Settings
The battery icon indicates the state of the battery of your device.
The text next to the icon indicates the remaining charge.
The icon appears on your device’s home screen and in the web page’s Connection Details
panel.
Charging the Battery)
Device Basics 13
The battery’s life is affected by the following conditions, some of which can be adjusted from
your device and from the web page:
● Standby time (See Setting the Sleep (Inactivity) Timer.)
● Data throughput
● Network signal strength (the better the signal, the longer the battery life)
● LED (if LED indicator is disabled, the battery lasts longer) (See Turning the LED On or
Off.)
Power Button
Use the power button to turn your device on and off.
Turning Your Device On and Off
Use the power button on your device to turn it on and of f.
Turning Your Device On
1. Make sure that:
• Your device has a charged battery inserted.
— or —
• Your device is connected to the AC charger or a computer (through the mic r oUSB cable).
Device Basics 14
2. If the LCD is blank, press and hold the Power button until the screen lights up.
Type of press
Result
Quick press
Removes device from standby (low power) mode.
Long press (press
Turns your device on.
that your device should be turned off.
Turning Your Device Off
1. Press and hold the Power button until the Shut Down button appears.
2. Press the Shut Down button.
Controlling Your Device Using the Power Button
The power button supports two types of presses.
Wakes up (turns on) the LCD if the LCD was dormant. (The LCD turns
dark, after a configurable time of inactivity.)
and hold for two
seconds)
Turns your device off.
Press the Shut Down button that appears on the screen to confirm
Restarting Your Device
If you need to restart your device for some reason, you can use these methods.
● Press and hold the Power button for two seconds.
● If the touchscreen is not responding, press and hold the Power button for five seconds.
● Remove and replace the battery.
Device Basics 15
LED
The LED status indicator shows the hotspot’s connection status.
● Blue single blink – Device is connected to network and Wi-Fi is ready.
● Blue double blink – Data is being transferred.
● Amber blink – Network is not ready. (Mobile broadband is disconnected, no signal is
available, or Wi-Fi is asleep.)
● Alternating orange and amber blink – Software updates being applied.
Device Tutorial
The NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot includes a device tutorial that shows the key features of the
LCD home screen.
To view the tutorial:
1. Launch the tutorial in one of the following ways:
• Tap > Settings > More > Support > View Tutorial.
• If viewing for the first time, on the home screen tap the Tutorial tab.
2. Shaded areas appear around each of the home screen’s elements. Tap a shaded
area to read a description of it.
3. Tap to close the description and continue to view other screen elements.
4. When finished, tap Close Tutorial.
Device Basics 16
LCD Touchscreen
The LCD has several icons that help you determine the status of your device and its
connections, and links to screens that let you configure Wi-Fi and device settings, view data
usage, view system alerts, and perform GPS fixes. See LCD Touchscreen Interface for details.
If the LCD is not lit, see “Turning Your Device On” in Turning Your Device On and Off.
Micro-SIM
Your NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot comes with a pre-installed micro-SIM that gives you
access to the Sprint network.
Alerts
Alerts notify you about situations that require your attention and suggest the actions you need to
take to resolve them.
Some of the alerts you may encounter include:
● Software Update Available
● Max Wi-Fi devices reached
● Mobile Broadband disconnected
● Wi-Fi is off
● Hotspot is not activated
● SIM errors
● Roam Guard
Device Basics 17
Your Network Connection
Find out how to launch, share, and end your network connection.
Launching Your Network C onnect ion
After your device powers on and boots up, a c onnection to the best available network is
launched automatically.
Your device will remain connected at all times, unless:
● You are out of signal range or the signal is blocked (in a tunnel, etc.).
● You are in a roaming area and you have chosen not to allow roaming.
Note: Even though your device is connected, you are only billed when data is sent or received.
See If the Connection is “Always On,” Am I Always Being Billed?
See also:
● Internet Connection Information
● Mobile Broadband Information and Settings
● Signal Information
Setting up a Guest Wi-Fi Network
Your NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot lets you create a separate Guest Wi-Fi network that you
can share with temporary users.
Devices on the Guest Wi-Fi network:
● Cannot access devices that are on the Main Wi-Fi network (such as printers or other
computers)
● Cannot use the Zing Manager to change any device settings
Turning the Guest Wi-Fi Network On
You can turn on the Guest Wi-Fi network on your device’s Guest Wi-Fi screen, and on the Zing
Manager’s Wi-Fi page.
On the Touchscreen
1. Tap > Wi-Fi > Guest Wi-Fi.
Your Network Connection 18
2. Tap Turn on Guest Wi-Fi. A message shows the Guest Wi-Fi network name and
password that your temporary user can use.
3. Tap to cl ose the mes sage.
In the Zing Manager (http://sprinthotspot)
1. Log in to the home page. (See Logging In as an Administrator.)
2. Click Wi-Fi.
3. In the Guest Wi-Fi area, click Turn On.
Turning the Guest Wi-Fi Network Off
You can turn off the Guest Wi-Fi network on your device’s Guest Wi-Fi screen, and on the Zing
Manager’s Wi-Fi page.
On the Touchscreen
1. Tap > Wi-Fi > Guest Wi-Fi.
2. Tap Turn off Guest Wi-Fi.
In the Zing Manager (http://sprinthotspot)
1. Make sure you’re logged in to the home page.
2. Click Wi-Fi.
3. In the Guest Wi-Fi area, click Turn Off.
Randomizing the Guest Wi-Fi Password
You can set the hotspot to use the same Guest Wi-Fi password all the time, or for greater
security, you can have it generate a random password each time the Guest Wi-Fi network is
turned on.
Note: The password only changes when Guest Wi-Fi is turned on – for example, if Guest Wi-Fi
was on when your device was restarted, the password doesn’t change because the
Guest Wi-Fi is still on.
On the Touchscreen
1. Tap > Wi-Fi > Options > Guest Wi-Fi Password.
2. Tap Fixed to always use the same Guest Wi-Fi password
-- or --
Your Network Connection 19
Tap Random to use a new Guest Wi-Fi password each time Guest Wi-Fi is turned
on.
In the Zing Manager (http://sprinthotspot)
1. Make sure you’re logged in to the home page.
2. Click Wi-Fi > Options.
3. In the Guest Wi-Fi section, select Generate a new password each time I turn on
the Guest Wi-Fi.
4. Click Submit.
Change the Guest Wi-Fi Password
You can change your Guest Wi-Fi password immediately.
● Change it manually (see Change Wi-Fi Network Names and Passwords)
● Generate a random password:
1. Make sure the random password setting is on (see Randomizing the Guest Wi-Fi
Password).
2. Turn off Guest Wi-Fi (see Turning the Guest Wi-Fi Network Off).
3. Turn Guest Wi-Fi back on (see Turning the Guest Wi-Fi Network On).
Sharing Your Connection
Your NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot provides two ways of sharing your network connection
with other users.
● User manually enters the Main or Guest Wi-Fi network information.
● User connects to the Main or Guest Wi-Fi network using WPS.
Manually Entering the Wi-Fi Information
Users can connect to the network by manually entering the Wi-Fi information.
Share your network connection with others:
1. Provide the Main or Guest Wi-Fi network name and password to them.
2. On their computers, users must open the Wi-Fi network manager and connect to the
Main or Guest Wi-Fi network of the NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot the password
you provided. (See How Do I Connect to Wi-Fi?)
Your Network Connection 20
Connecting Through WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) provides a fast, simple, and secure way to c onnect W PS-enabled
devices to your Wi-Fi network. You don’t have to give the name (SSID) and Wi-Fi password of
your Main or Guest network to other users.
The WPS feature is available on certain cameras, printers, smartphones, and laptops. These
devices have either a hardware button or a WPS-related option in the software. Please consult
the user documentation of your device.
WPS is always available for the Main and Guest Wi-Fi networks as long as the Wi-Fi radio is on
(device is not asleep due to standby option, or off while device is tethered).
WPS is not available in any of these situations:
● Wi-Fi radio is of f while your device is sleeping due to inactivity.
● Wi-Fi radio is of f while your device is tethered. See Disable Wi-Fi When Tethering
Device (Connected Through USB).
● The Wi-Fi security option is WPA Personal, WEP, or WEP-related (for example, “WEP
64 Bit Open”). (Note: WPS is available if the Wi-Fi security option is WPA/WPA2
Personal.) (See Wi-Fi Security.)
● Broadcast network name is not enabled. (See Options Tab.)
● MAC Filter Mode is “White list (Allow only those in list)”, but no computers have been
added to the list. (See “Specifying Computers That Can Access the Network” in Allowing
or Denying Computers Access to the Network (MAC Filter).)
If the maximum number of connected devices on the chosen networ k (Main or Guest) has
already been met, an error message indicating that the maximum number of devices has been
reached is displayed when you attempt WPS. Disconnect one of the connected devices and
then retry.
You can use the WPS feature on your device’s WPS screen, and on the Zing Manager’s
Wi-Fi > Connect page.
Your Network Connection 21
On the Touchscreen
1. Tap > Wi-Fi > WPS.
2. Tap either Pair with Main Wi-Fi or Pair with Guest Wi-Fi.
Note: If a Pair button is gray, that wireless network is currently unavailable. (Guest Wi-Fi could
be turned off, Wi-Fi could be turned off because your device is tethered, etc.)
3. When the LCD of your device displays “Select the WPS button on your device to
pair”, press (within 2 minutes) the WPS button on the wireless device you want to
connect or select the WPS-related option in your device’s software.
Your NETGEAR Zing Mobile Hotspot and the wireless device will communicate and establish
the connection. If no problems are encountered, the LCD of your NETGEAR Zing Mobile
Hotspot displays “Your device can now access your hotspot.” If your device does not connect,
try to connect it manually. (See How Do I Connect to Wi-Fi?)
Note: If you want to stop the pairing process, tap Cancel in the WPS screen.
In the Zing Manager (http://sprinthotspot)
1. Log in to the home page. (See Logging In as an Administrator.)
Your Network Connection 22
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